About Our Guest

(From votefordave.org)

I have been very involved in efforts to enhance the quality of life in our community. In my professional life as a non-profit director, in my civic life as an advocate for affordable housing, social justice and the environment, and in my personal life as a father of two wonderful children (Eli, 12, and Chloe, 9), I have enjoyed being an active member of the Charlottesville community. My family and I feel blessed to live in such a caring, engaged and lively city.

I currently work as Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with measurable impact. In previous positions, I’ve served as Executive Director of PACEM, Associate Director of Madison House, as Interim Director of PHAR (the Public Housing Association of Residents), as founding Director of the Connecting People to Jobs Initiative (a joint venture between PHAR and Piedmont Virginia Community Colllege), and as Coordinator of the Virginia Economic Development Corporation’s Micro Loan Program for low-income, minority and female entrepreneurs.

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Program Transcript

Jan Paynter: Welcome. I’m Jan Paynter and this is Politics Matters. Our guest today, and I thank you, is our Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris. Dave, thanks for being with us today.

Dave Norris: My pleasure. I’m glad to be with you, Jan.

Jan Paynter: People are their principles and politics should flow naturally from that but it often doesn’t. The original definition of politics was the entire body of citizens, those groups that make decisions. After the ’08 election there was a tremendous sense of passion and engagement. In Charlottesville we had people voting for the first time, we had people talking and really paying attention.

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